Birdmobile Osprey 1/2 size

[birder]

The wings are very nicely designed for strength and accuracy, prettily painted.
The wing spar attaches to the secondaries which are 2 folded and trimmed parts, then the outer wing structure which attaches to the primary feathers except the outer 4 that are made separately. As an effort to enhance realistic feathers I’ve separated the individual outer bit of the feathers painted on, but not convinced it’s that helpful and takes alot longer...
Then will make the opposite wing structure

[birder]

The tail is made from the main tail piece and 4 feathers outer on both sides. Undertail feathers fit perfectly.
(Sorry for the poor resolution pictures with my phone )

[Kevin WS]

Great job (as always Glen)!

[Don Boose]

This is going to be a beautiful bird!

I also enjoyed the images of the osprey fishing off the dock.

Don

[birder]

Thanks much Kevin and Don It is a testament to the skills of Malcolm Topp it says in the instructions that he worked on this 4 years, and I believe it. Don it sure is nice to see the spring return, Yellow Rumped Warblers around today and Loons, Horned and Red-necked Grebes migrating ... Tree, Violet Green and Rough Winged swallows have shown up and Calliope and migrating Rufous hummers have visited the feeder..nice..

[birder]

You have to enjoy seeing the design engineering in this kit, the support system for the back and wing box is really cool, and everything fits perfectly if off is from my doing, not the design. Of course this is covered up first from the back and then a couple large parts that form the chest and upper back. The sides are first covered with 4 side feather parts, the large upper flank part has some structure that is folded, that forces the feathers to spread out, which will blend in with the wing later.
With the chest parts on, a large couple of pretty simple parts, the head can be added. This is hard to believe that Mr Topp would design the head to rotate any angle, by being held on with rubber band attached to the head and a string going through this and entering and exiting from the back. I used monofilament and elastic hair band, and it is cool to rotate the head in different angles...
Now will have to move forward on the wings and legs....

[Michael Mash]

It is very interesting to see how this is structured.
Part of it looks like an aircraft . . . then the feathers come along and everything changes.
In no time this bird will be diving for fish.

[birder]

Originally Posted by Michael Mash

It is very interesting to see how this is structured.
Part of it looks like an aircraft . . . then the feathers come along and everything changes.
In no time this bird will be diving for fish.

Isn’t it impressive how sturdy this is, if you made it full size this structure would be seriously necessary
I hope this won’t get too close to the water though

[birder]

JohnM is right this is not that small a model....pic with ruler.....showing view with primary flight feathers in place...
I was able to get more wing work done over the weekend, starting with the feather layers next that overlap the flight feathers, this is in 2 parts that fit well and work nicely, the designer did include a bit of wiggle room extra so the layers go on pretty easily, although I was not as careful to avoid water based glue, which caused me some troubles, and there is quite alot of edge painting needed, easier with watercolor but did use some acrylics on the large flight feathers. The part that covers the "elbow" actually the wrist of a bird, anyway is really great design too that I was looking forward to making when I saw it. A couple of overview pictures of the whole wing with the lower forward edge on which is in three parts below the wrist.

[Kevin WS]

Nice accurate looking wings!